Portable rehabilitation apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed is a portable rehabilitation apparatus and method for use of the apparatus by a user or patient. The apparatus is adapted for transitioning between a collapsed state to facilitate the mobility of the rehabilitation robot (e.g., using wheels) and an open state for operation of the rehabilitation robot by the user. The apparatus includes the rehabilitation robot that is contained within a compartment defined by a housing which is made up of moveable portions. The apparatus also includes a mast assembly adapted to form a gap between the moveable housing portions in order to provide the user with access to the rehabilitation robot. The mast assembly is further adapted to collapse, thereby eliminating the gap and closing off the compartment when the rehabilitation robot is not in use.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A mobile rehabilitation apparatus for providing therapy to a user, the apparatus comprising:
 a base having one or more wheels; 
 a mast assembly, projecting from the base, comprising a lower mast portion and an upper mast portion moveable relative to the lower mast portion, between a raised position and a collapsed position; 
 a rehabilitation robot; 
 a linkage associated with the upper mast portion and adapted for mounting the rehabilitation robot; 
 a housing including a lower housing portion supported by the base and an upper housing portion supported by the upper mast portion, the lower housing portion having a compartment defined therein sized to accommodate the rehabilitation robot and the linkage when the robot is not in use; the upper housing portion being moveable relative to the lower housing portion between a stowage position wherein the upper housing portion rests proximate to the lower housing portion, and a deployment position wherein the upper housing portion is spaced apart from the lower housing portion; 
 the mast assembly and the housing being configured to cooperate with each other such that:
 when the upper mast portion is in the raised position, the upper housing portion occupies the deployment position thereby forming a gap between the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion; the gap providing the user with access to the rehabilitation robot and permitting deployment of the rehabilitation robot; and 
 when the upper mast portion is in the collapsed position, the upper housing portion occupies the stowage position thereby eliminating the gap closing off the compartment accommodating the rehabilitation robot and linkage. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The mobile rehabilitation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the linkage is moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, such that:
 the linkage is wholly contained within the compartment in the retracted position; and 
 the linkage extends beyond the boundary of the compartment in the extended position. 
 
     
     
       3. The mobile rehabilitation apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the movement of the linkage is perpendicular to the displacement of the upper housing portion. 
     
     
       4. The mobile rehabilitation apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the linkage is a scissor mechanism. 
     
     
       5. The mobile rehabilitation apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the linkage is motorized. 
     
     
       6. The mobile rehabilitation apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the linkage comprises two motors positioned in a vertical arrangement. 
     
     
       7. The mobile rehabilitation apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the two motors are supported by the upper mast portion using a cantilevered arrangement. 
     
     
       8. The mobile rehabilitation apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the linkage comprises two motors positioned in a horizontal arrangement. 
     
     
       9. The mobile rehabilitation apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the two motors are supported on a bottom surface by a platform extending from the upper mast portion. 
     
     
       10. The base of  claim 1 , further comprising a support extending away from a lower surface to maintain the apparatus in an upright position during use of the rehabilitation robot by the user. 
     
     
       11. The mast assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the upper mast portion is received within the lower mast portion in the collapsed position. 
     
     
       12. The mast assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lower mast portion is received within the upper mast portion in the collapsed position. 
     
     
       13. The lower housing portion of  claim 1 , further comprising a stabilizer having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion pivotally connected to the lower housing portion and the distal portion adapted to engage a surface when the rehabilitation robot is deployed to maintain the apparatus in an upright position during use of the rehabilitation robot by the user. 
     
     
       14. The stabilizer of  claim 13 , further comprising a switch operable to automatically induce a displacement of the upper mast portion, such that when the distal portion of the stabilizer engages the surface, the upper mast portion moves to the raised position and when the distal portion is disengaged from the surface, the upper mast portion moves to the collapsed position. 
     
     
       15. The upper housing portion of  claim 1 , further comprising a carry handle to facilitate transit of the apparatus when the upper mast portion is in the collapsed position. 
     
     
       16. The mobile rehabilitation apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a tilt bar projecting from the base, on a side of the apparatus proximal to the carry handle, to facilitate movement of the apparatus between an upright position and a tilted position for transit. 
     
     
       17. The mast assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the height of the upper mast portion in the raised position is adjustable depending on the height of the user. 
     
     
       18. The mobile rehabilitation apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a monitor for use by the user during deployment of the rehabilitation robot, the monitor attached to the upper housing portion by an articulated arm moveable between a monitor in-use position and a monitor stowage position. 
     
     
       19. The mobile rehabilitation apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein a top surface of the upper housing portion defines a monitor compartment sized to accommodate the monitor and the articulated arm when the monitor is in the stowage position. 
     
     
       20. The mobile rehabilitation apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mast assembly further comprises a motor to move the upper mast portion relative to the lower mast portion. 
     
     
       21. A mobile rehabilitation apparatus for providing therapy to a user, the apparatus comprising:
 a base; 
 a mast assembly, projecting from the base, comprising a lower mast portion and an upper mast portion moveable relative to the lower mast portion, between a raised position and a collapsed position; 
 a rehabilitation robot connected to the upper mast portion; 
 a housing including a lower housing portion supported by the base and an upper housing portion supported by the upper mast portion, the lower housing portion having a compartment defined therein sized to accommodate the rehabilitation robot when the robot is not in use; the upper housing portion being moveable relative to the lower housing portion between a stowage position wherein the upper housing portion rests proximate to the lower housing portion, and a deployment position wherein the upper housing portion is spaced apart from the lower housing portion; 
 the mast assembly and the housing being configured to cooperate with each other such that:
 when the upper mast portion is in the raised position, the upper housing portion occupies the deployment position thereby forming a gap between the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion; the gap providing the user with access to the rehabilitation robot and permitting deployment of the rehabilitation robot; and 
 when the upper mast portion is in the collapsed position, the upper housing portion occupies the stowage position thereby eliminating the gap closing off the compartment accommodating the rehabilitation robot. 
 
 
     
     
       22. A method of providing therapy to a patient at a patient location using a mobile rehabilitation apparatus:
 (a) providing an apparatus having: a base; a mast assembly, projecting from the base, comprising a lower mast portion and an upper mast portion moveable relative to the lower mast portion, between a raised position and a collapsed position; a rehabilitation robot connected to the upper mast portion; a housing including a lower hosing portion supported by the base and an upper housing portion supported by the upper mast portion, the lower housing portion having a compartment defined therein sized to accommodate the rehabilitation robot when the robot is not in use; the upper housing portion being moveable relative to the lower housing portion between a stowage position wherein the upper housing portion rests proximate to the lower housing portion, and a deployment position wherein the upper housing portion is spaced apart from the lower housing portion; 
 (b) moving the apparatus, in the stowage position, to the patient location; 
 (c) moving the upper mast portion to the raised position to form a gap between the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion, the gap providing the patient with access to the rehabilitation robot and permitting deployment of the rehabilitation robot; 
 (d) providing therapy to the patient using the rehabilitation robot; 
 (e) moving the upper mast portion to the collapsed position to eliminate the gap closing off the compartment accommodating the rehabilitation robot; and 
 (f) moving the apparatus, in the stowage position, away from the patient location.